Overview

The most holy of holy cities has many of the most striking and thought provoking churches and monuments of anywhere. Mosques and churches sit side by side and you will find such niceties as Temple Mount, the Western Wall and the Holy Sepulchre. Kids will enjoy the Time Elevator.

Yad Vashem

This most poignant of symbols in the Israeli capital commemorates those who died during the Holocaust - around six million Jews. Included in the complex is a museum that teaches all about the event, along with an art museum with works on the concentration camps, as well as a as a research centre. There is also a café and bookstore here.

Temple Mount

Temple Mount is a popular Judaist and Islamic attraction in town. It is essentially a hill with a temple on top in the middle of the city that features a massive golden dome. This is where Muhammad apparently ascended to heaven, and the neighbouring Al Aqsa Mosque is a major place of worship for Muslims. Look out for the Dome of the Rock.

Western Wall

Also known as the Wailing Wall, the Western Wall is at the foot of Temple Mount and is the place where Jews come to chant during Tisha b'Av fast. It is constructed of huge blocks of golden stone and is the only surviving part of the walls of the Second Temple from 30 BC. The Romans destroyed the temple and most of the wall a century later in AD 70. Jews pray here and place notes in the cracks of the wall.

Time Elevator

The Time Elevator is one of Jerusalem's more fun attractions. It is a simulator ride with a difference, taking in the history of the city from war to earthquakes, and subsequent rebuilding projects. There is also a flight over the city. The journey last for 25 minutes while you are strapped in and given a set of headphones, but is not suitable for kids under five years.

Holy Sepulchre

The Holy Sepulchre is a very important Christian site but allows all faiths to come in and pray. It used to be the site of the 4th century basilica of Constantine, yet the structure you see today was built by the Crusaders. The domed exterior is very grand while inside is Golgotha, the Tomb of Christ (Anastasis) and a stunning chapel.

Garden Tomb

The Garden Tomb was at one time thought to house the tomb of Christ, although is now believed to date back way before this time. It can be found near Damascus Gate and is hugely important for Christians, despite many attesting that the tomb of Christ is in fact in the Holy Sepulchre. Many prefer to pray here as it is more peaceful and also offers great exploring for kids.

Chapel of the Ascension

Jesus supposedly ascended to heaven at this spot and the Chapel of the Ascension was subsequently built by the Crusaders in commemoration. The octagonal chapel lies in a nice quiet spot with fine views over the city and is quite striking in its plainness. The chapel became a mosque in the late 1100s after the Muslims expelled the Crusaders.

Ein Kerem

Ein Kerem is an interesting suburb to visit on the edge of West Jerusalem in that it has a pleasant small town atmosphere amid rolling hills and lots of greenery. Olive groves and cypress trees are all around and the area has been home to writers and artists for centuries. Notice the mansions and galleries in this area and the references to John the Baptist, who was believed to have been born here.

Overview

Walking and hiking are popular activities in Jerusalem and there are many places to have a jaunt, either walking around town or in the Jerusalem Hills. The yearly Jerusalem Marathon, meanwhile, is for ardent runners or you may prefer to get well away from the tourist scene and go by four-wheel drive jeep. Football and basketball are the biggest spectator sports in Israel.

Walking tours

The Jerusalem Experience Walking Tour takes in the old town on foot and is lead by experienced guides. Doing a tour really is the best way to get the most out of the old town and to learn a bit more about it. Trips are numerous and the more well known sites visited along the way include the City of David, the Jewish Quarter, and the Western Wall. Groups are small, typically of just six people.

Hiking

If you prefer to get really active while in Jerusalem there are many nearby hikes to be had, of which the walk around Nahal Hama'ara is perhaps the most famous. It is a five- to six-mile walk which starts at Moshav Bar Giora and ends at Moshav Zanoah, taking in the likes of the Ein Hod tunnel and the Bet Abtar fortifications. Other popular hikes near to Jerusalem include the walk from Ein Hindak to Sataf Springs and from Ein Kobi to Ein Yoel.

Four by four tours

Four by four jeep tours across the Jerusalem Hills are extremely popular and a great way to take in ancient sites and monasteries off the beaten path. You could go with a tour through a decent hotel, direct with Mozada tours, or take bus number 99 for a good look at the whole city. Buses go from Egged Central Bus Station and are hop-on, hop-off.

Jerusalem Marathon

If you are seriously into running, the annual Jerusalem Marathon goes through the streets of the capital via the interesting western part of town and ends in the centre of the city. Runners come from countries worldwide to compete in the Jerusalem Marathon and it takes place when it's not too hot.

Spectator sports

The Jewish are big into football and basketball and there are many fine stadiums where you can catch a game. The big football teams in Jerusalem are Hapoel Jerusalem FC and Beitar Jerusalem FC - the reds and the yellows - with Beitar being the most successful team. Hapoel is the main basketball team in the city, with the Strauss Arena hosting the biggest games.

Dining and shopping

Israel has some great food and dining, with many cuisines represented at everything from street hawker stalls to star-rated restaurants. Shopping in Jerusalem is lots of fun and although it gets hot here, the humidity is low enough to not be overly uncomfortable. The market shopping is particularly good in Jerusalem, with art, jewellery, and souvenirs being the most popular buys.

You will find the greatest concentration of restaurants in West Jerusalem, near Zion Square and along Ben Yehuda Street. Other popular eating areas in town are the small streets of Yoel Solomon and Nahalat Shiva, while Emek Refaim is located near Liberty Bell Park and is also a good option. Head to the Arab quarter for the best Arab food and to East Jerusalem for other local eateries.

Falafel is the main eat in Jerusalem and numerous places specialise in it in town, while European and Middle Eastern foods are also popular. Restaurants and cafés near the main bus station and the area around Machaneh Yehuda do the best falafel in town and are where you can find well-priced stalls. Falafel is a chickpea, parsley, lemon juice combination that is fried and comes with pita bread. A good local dessert to try in Jerusalem is the chocolate-filled pastry known as ruggalah.

There are many shopping districts in town where you can pick up all manner of local handicrafts as well as quality clothing. The Jewish Quarter in old Jerusalem is a good bet, as is the buzzing Arab Bazaar, while the city centre area itself also has good shopping. You'll find some fantastic art and jewellery in Jerusalem but be careful when buying gold and gems due to unrealistic prices aimed at tourists.

One of the best buys in Jerusalem is cheap religious items and the Muslim Quarter has many good souks (markets) to head for. Everything from funny t-shirts to judaica (Judaism materials), ceramics and Israeli glass can be had at these souks.

Mahane Yehuda Market is perhaps the best market for tourists to head to. It is a maze of alleys and has all sorts of natty produce and great food. For good art in this area of town head to King David Street. If you prefer shopping in air-conditioned comfort, however, there are loads of shopping centres in town, with the Kenion Shopping Mall being the most useful and popular. The Kenion Shopping Mall specialises in quality clothing and jewellery.

Jerusalem has many top-end restaurants that mostly represent Middle Eastern cuisine. You will be hard pushed to find falafel any better than here and the seafood is also pretty great. In addition, fine Italian, Indian and ethnic restaurants can also be found. Décor, quality and attention to detail in Jerusalem's top 10 restaurants is superb.

Overview

Ben Gurion International Airport is the gateway to Israel and is served by dozens of airlines form cities all over the Western world. Facilities are good and trains, buses and taxis run to Jerusalem at all hours. The most interesting parts of the capital can be got about on foot, although trains buses and taxis are also available.

Airports

The main airport serving Jerusalem is Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), which is a fair way from the city centre but is well connected by ground transportation. More than 11 million people use Ben Gurion, named after Israel's first prime minister, annually and it is connected to major cities the world over.

Major airlines come in from the likes of London, Frankfurt and New York, and El Al Israel Airlines, the Israeli flag carrier, provides numerous domestic flights. Jerusalem also has a domestic airport, known as Atarot Airport, although this is now given over to military use.

There are four-terminals at Ben Gurion International Airport, where facilities include ATMs, banks and currency exchange, along with a host of eateries and shops. Duty-free shopping can be had in the international terminals, while a post office, left luggage, and business services are also onsite. Expect tough security when arriving at Ben Gurion. Although there are no hotels at Ben Gurion Airport, there are several good options nearby.

Getting to Jerusalem from Ben Gurion Airport is straightforward, with trains, buses, minibuses, taxis and shared taxis all leaving the airport. Trains run to nearby Tel Aviv from the airport, from where other services run on to Jerusalem. Buses and minibuses offer the cheapest form of airport transfer, while shared taxis (sherut) are ideal for families and groups. The minibus terminal is a shuttle ride away from the airport. Taxis offer the most convenience for getting to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv from Ben Gurion Airport.

Public transportation

If you are already in Israel you can make use of buses and trains for getting to Jerusalem. Trains come into Malcha Station from Tel Aviv's Hashalom Station in about 90 minutes as well as from Shemesh, Lod, Petah Tikva, and Kfar Saba. You can also get to and from the coast by rail.

Bus is your best option for getting to Jerusalem from all points of Israel, with the Egged National Bus service providing extensive coverage. As well as Israeli cities, services also come into Jerusalem from neighbouring Egypt and Jordan, terminating at Jerusalem's Central Bus Station in West Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is a little short on public transport options although there should be no issue in getting around, with buses, trains and taxis all covering the city well. Buses are your best bet for getting about Jerusalem at large and you'll find the main bus station on Jaffa Road in West Jerusalem. The bus station is modern, clean and efficient and has good facilities.

You can also get about by train to limited destinations within Jerusalem, as well as farther afield. Getting to Ben Gurion Airport from Jerusalem by rail involves first going to Tel Aviv and then catching another service from there, a journey of about two hours. It is therefore better to take a bus or minibus direct. The main train station in town is Malcha Station. Jerusalem has no subway although plans for a light rail system are on the cards.

You can hail a taxi on the street but always ensure the price of the trip is agreed on before setting off or insist the meter is used as tourists are often overcharged. Both standard taxis and shared taxis run to and from the airport.